Automatic take-up means for knitting machines



Jan. 3, 1956 J. F. TEW

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 13, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 me/MM Jan. 3, 1956 J. F'. TEW

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AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 13 1951' 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jani 3, 1956 J. F. TEW

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April l5, 1951 Jan. 3, 1956 .1. F. Tl-:w 2,729,082

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmk/Mofo 70 en-wurm..

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AUTOMATIC TAKE--UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 13 1951 14 Sheets-Shea? 6 .fai

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AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 l "HUM-f MIM www" Jan. 3, 1956 J. F. TEW 2,729,082

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 13, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 3, 1956 v Filed April l5 1951 J. F. rEw 2,729,082

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES l14 sheets-sheet 9 Jan. 3, 1956 Filed April l5 1951 J. F. 'new 2,729,082

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 M Jfgaw 33M M f Jan. 3, 1956 J. F. TEW

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANSFOR KNITTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed April 13, 1951 Jan. 3, 1956 AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES .1. F. TEW 2,729,082

Filed April 13, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 Jan.. 3, 1956 J. F. TEW

AUTOMATIC TAKE- UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed April 13, 1951 alto'waqv J. F. TEW 2,729,082

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS Foa KNITTING MACHINES Jan. 3, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed April 13 1951 Svw AI. nu usb,

United States. Patent'l ce AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Joseph F. Tew, Newland, N. C., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 13, 1951, Serial No. 220,822

21 Claims. (Cl. Gtia-149) The present invention relates to improvements generally useful in knitting machines, and more particularly to mechanism for automatically applying a take-up device or tensioning weight to fabric during knitting and for automatically detaching said device from the fabric article after knitting has been completed.

More specically, the invention relates to improvements useful in circular hosiery knitting machines, and to mechanism for automatically applying a take-up to the stocking fabric, preferably as soon as suiicient fabric has been knitted to attach a tensioning weight thereto, and for automatically detaching the take-up from the stocking after knitting of the stocking has been completed. The structure embodied in the present invention for accomplishing the foregoing includes a specially designed take-up device reciprocable in a Work tube and having spring pressed fingers adapted to be opened or spread apart by a pneumatically operated piston in the work tube; an abutment being provided at the upper end of the work tube for holding the take-up device While the piston spreads the fingers apart temporarily to receive the knitted fabric therebetween; and a stop member located at an intermediate region of the work tube and projectable into the work tube to serve as another abutment for engagement by the take-up device for holding said take-up device while said piston again effects opening of the fingers thereof to release the stocking therefrom after knitting of the stocking has been completed.

The invention further relates to automatic means for removing the completed stockingl from the work tube after the tensioning or take-up device has been detached therefrom. A suction device having a storage receptacle associated therewith has been found to be satisfactory for this purpose.

It is the current practice in many hosiery mills to manually apply aweight to a stocking while it is being knitted to tension the same and to manually detach the weight from the stocking after the completed stocking has dropped from the machine on to the oor or into a receptacle below the work discharge tube. This practice is objectionable for various reasons, and particularly in view of the fact that it requires the employment of unnecessary labor, which increases the cost of production, and requires attentive application of the weight at the proper time in order to insure a satisfactory product, which is not obtainable with careless help.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means for automatically tensioning circular knit fabric as soon as sufiicient fabric has been knitted to suspend a take-up weight therefrom, to thereby produce fabric having uniform stitches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a take-up or tensioning device which will not damage the fabric in any way and which is adapted to have its mass varied in accordance with the character and weight of yarn ernployed in knitting a particular product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a takeup or tensioning device which will maintain itself sus- A2,729,082 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 pended from the fabric being knitted and which will rotate with the fabric to avoid twisting or damage to the fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for automatically applying a tensioning weight or take-up device to a stocking during knitting, and for automatically detaching such tensioning weight or take-up device from the stocking after knitting has been completed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically removing a completed stocking from the worktube after the tensioning weight has been detached from the stocking.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in combination with the stocking removing means, a storage receptacle in which the stockings can be temporarily stored to prevent the same from becoming damaged or soiled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tensioning device peculiarly adapted for attachment to elastic-top hose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a left side elevational view of a circular hosiery knitting machine embodying the principle of the present invention; p

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the machine shown in Fig. l, but illustrating in addition the suction device for effecting withdrawal of the completed stocking from the work tube of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the storage receptacle of the suction device taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the knitting machine and particularly illustrating the drive means thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.,4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the work tube of the machine, taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the friction clutch and drive mechanism for the work tube together with the cam and control means for controlling the operation of said clutch;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the cams and control mechanism for locking the driven element of the friction clutch in predetermined indexed positions;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. l;

' Fig. 1l is a similar sectional View taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. l;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view particularly illustrating the indexing mechanism, taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a cam and control mechanism for controlling the operation of a stop member co-operable with the tensioning weight for elfecting release of a stocking from said tensioning weight; f

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line lit-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating an air valve and an air valve control cam for controlling the operation of the piston which effects attachment to and detachment of the tensioning weight or take-up device from the knitted fabric;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view through the air valve shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lower end of the work tube showing the means by :spaanse .ich air under pressure is admitted into said work tube; i it; is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line tti- 1S of Fig. 4 and illustrating the position in which the work tube is indexed during detachment of thc take-up weight from the stocking and during withdrawal of the completed stocking from said work tube;

i9 is a similar view, but illustrating the work tube in the position in which it is indexed during attachment of the tensioning weight to the end of a stocking;

Fig. is a schematic view illustrating a cam and switch operated thereby for controlling the operation of the suction device for withdrawing the stocking from the work tube after the tensioning weight has been detached from the stocking;

Fig. 2l is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the needle cyiinder and the upper end of the work tube and illustrating the tensioning weight or takeup device in its uppermost position with its fingers in open position to receive the knitted fabric therebetween;

Fig. 22 illustrates the tensioning weight suspended from thc welt end of a stocking;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the tensioning weight per se shown in Figs. 2l and 22;

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a similar view taken onv the line 25-25 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 26 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 is a vertical sectional view through the work tube, illustrating the tensioning weight after having dropped to the lower end of the work tube upon cornpletion of the knitting of a stocking;

Fig. 28 is a similar view through the work tube illustrating the tensioning weight held against a stop with its fingers spread apart, and the released stocking being withdrawn through the discharge opening of the work tube;

Fig. 29 is a vertical sectional view through the needle cylinder and work tube illustrating a different kind of tensioning weight particularly adapted for use with elastic-top hose;

Fig. 30 is a plan view of the modified tensioning weight taken on the line 30-30 of Fig. 29; and

Fig. 31 is a cam diagram illustrating the timing cycle of the automatically operated elements comprising the improvements disclosed herein.

Referring now, more particularly to Figs. l, 2, and 4 of the drawings, the type of knitting machine illustrated is conventional and comprises a sub-base, generally identified by the numeral 1, fabricated from angle iron sections welded or otherwise secured together and providing a support for a main frame including a bedplate 2 and four supporting legs 3 extending downwardly from said bedplate and attached by bolts 4 to the top members of said sub-frame. A conventional column 5 has a flange at its lower end secured to the bedplate 2 by bolts 6 and a conventional pedestal bracket 7 is similarly mounted upon said bedplate. A platform 8 is secured to the bracket 7 by bolts 9 and is further supported in spaced relation to the bedplate 2 by a bracket l0 secured to said bedplate by bolts 11 (Fig. l).

The bracket 7 carries the usual conventional driving mechanism well known to all those familiar with circu lar knitting machines. Therefore, for present purposes it will be unnecessary to describe such driving mechanism in detail other than to point out briefly that it includes the usual idle, slow and fast speed drive pulleys 12, i3, and 14 respectively, and the conventional reversing clutch 15 for effecting alternating and/or continuous rotary motion of the main drive bevel gear 16, and to point out that the main cam drum 17 is mounted upon a shaft 18 (Fig. 2) supported at one end by the bracket 10 and at its opposite end by the bracket 7, the shaft 1-8 having a gear 19 adjacent the cam drum 17 driven by a conventional gear train 20.

The cam drum 17 makes one revolution for each complete cycle of the machine and is provided with a number of special cams designed to control the automatic attachment of the tensioning weight to the stocking while it is being knitted, the automatic detachment of the tensioning weight from the stocking after knitting has been completed, and the subsequent automatic withdrawal of the completed stocking from the work tube, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Referring now, to Fig. 2l, the main drive bevel gear t6 meshes with a bevel gear 27 disposed in a recess 28 in the platform 8. The gear 27 is retained in the recess 29 by a plate 29 secured to the platform 8 by machine screws 3G. The. gear 27 is drivingly inter-connected with a conventional needle cylinder 31, by a key 32. The needle cylinder 31 is provided with longitudinally extending grooves 33 in which the usual cylinder needles Iand jacks 34 are mounted. For present purposes, it will be unnecessary to describe in detail the usual stationary cams 35 and 36 which control the operation of the cylinder needles. A dial ring 38 is disposed adjacent the upper ends of the needles 34 and a latch ring 39 is shown in dot and dash lines above the needle dial.

The upper end of the needle cylinder 31 is recessed as indicated at 40 to receive a conventional ring 41 secured thereto by screws 42. A stocking-receiving or work tube has its upper end extended into an elongated hub portion 46 of the bevel gear 27 and has a free running fit in said hub portion. An abutment ring 47 is secured by threads 48 to the upper end of the work tube 45 and is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 49 for a purpose explained later, A sleeve 50 is disposed immediately above the ring 47 and is flared outwardly at its upper end 51 so that it partially overlies the ring 41. The sleeve 50 may be force-fitted or otherwise secured to the hub portion 46 of the gear 27 foi effecting rotation thereof with the needle cylinder 31.

Referring now to Fig. 17, a core or end closure 52 is fastened to the lower end of the work tube 45 by a plurality of set screws 53. The lower end of the core 52 is shouldered as indicated at 54 to receive one race of a ball thrust bearing 55, the cooperating race of which is mounted in a bracket 56 secured by bolts 57 to a base plate 58 of the sub-frame 1. A gear 59 is secured to the end member 52 at a point between the lower end of the work tube 45 and the bracket 56, whereby the work tube 45 can be rotated or held stationary independently of the needle cylinder 31.

Referring now to Fig. 21, a spur gear 60 is secured to a flange depending from the bevel gear 27 by a plurality of screws 61, so that the gear 60 rotates at all times with the bevel gear 27. A gear 62 (see Figs. l, 4, 5, and 7) of the same pitch diameter as the gear 60, is in constant mesh with the gear 60 and is fixed to a vertical shaft 63 disposed parallel with the work tube 45. The shaft 63. is rotatably journaled in a bracket 64 disposed adjacent the gear 62. The bracket 64 is maintained in fixed spaced relation to the platform 8 by hangers 65 bolted at 66 to said bracket and at 67 to said platform.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the lower end of the shaft 63 is supported by a thrust bearing 68 mounted in a bracket 69 secured to the plate 58 of the sub-base 1 by bolts 70. A gear 71 of the same pitch diameter as the gear 59 fixed to the lower end of the work tube 45 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 63 and meshes with the gear 59. One element 72 of a friction clutch, generally identified by the reference numeral 73, is secured to the gear 71 by screws 74. The clutch 73 comprises an element 75 which is fixed against rotation with respect to the shaft 63 by a pin 76. The clutch element 75 is bifurcatedl at its opposite ends for the reception of links 77 which are pivotally connected thereto by pins 78. Each of the links 77 carries an arcuate shoe 79 arranged to frictionally engage with the outer periphery of the friction member 72. The upper end of each of the links 77 is engaged by a conical cam slidable on a sleeve 81 mounted on the shaft 63 above the clutch member 75. The cone member 30 has a groove 83 formed therein for the reception of trunnions 84 carried by a yoke portion 85 of a clutch operating lever 86, said lever being pivotally connected by a pin 87 (Figs. 1 and 7) to the upper end of a bracket 88, suitably secured to an angle member of the sub-base 1. A spring 89 has one end thereof connected to the lever 86 and its opposite end is connected at 90 to the base plate 58. The spring 89 thus tends to continuously urge the cone 80 downwardly to actuate the links 77 to engage the sgements 79 with the friction member 72 to effect driving engagement between the clutch element 75 and the gear 71.

As is best shown in Fig. 7, one end of a rod 91 extends through an opening 92 in the clutch operating lever 86 and collars 93 are iixed to said rod upon opposite sides of said lever to mechanically interconnect said rod and lever. The upper end of the rod 91 is connected to a laterally extending arm 94 of a lever 95 pivotally mounted upon the bracket 10 by a screw 96. The lever 95 has a curved finger 97 formed integrally therewith which is adapted to be engaged at appropriate intervals by cams 98 and 99 mounted upon one end face of the main cam drum 17. A spring 100 has one end thereof connected to the arm 94 and its other end connected to a bracket 101 carried by the bracket 10 and always tends to urge the ringer 97 into engagement with the cams 98 and 99. A second spring 100a may have one end connected to the lever 95 and its other end connected to a bracket 100b mounted upon the column 5. A stop member 102 mounted upon the plafrom 8 limits clockwise movement of the lever 95 under the action of springs 100 and 100:1.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 8, the clutch 73 would be engaged, but upon continued rotation of the cam drum 17 in a clockwise direction, the clutch 73 would soon be disengaged by virtue of the fact that the cam 93 would act upon the finger 97-and cause the lever 95 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Such rotation would effect raising of the lateral arm 94 of the lever 95 with a consequent raising of the rod 91 and cause the yoke 85 of the lever 86 to raise the cone 80 to thereby interrupt the frictional contact between the member 72 and the shoes 79 carried by the links 77.

As has been previously explained, the clutch gear 71 is in constant mesh with the gear 59 carried by the work tube 45 so that, upon disengagement of the clutch 73, the driving of the work tube 45 is interrupted. The work tube 45 is stopped in predetermined indexed relation by stop mechanism described hereinafter for purposes to be explained later.

Referring now to Fig. 17, the end member 52 of .the work tube 45 has an axially extending passageway 105, which is enlarged at its lower end and provided with threads 106. A conventional air supply tting 107 is threaded into engagement with the threads 106 and includes a plug 108 provided with a vertical passageway 109 communicating with passageway 105, and a plurality of traverse ports 110 communicating with the passageway 109. The plug 10S is secured to the member 52 for rotation therewith and a stationary tting 111 surrounds the ports 110 and has one end of an air pressure supply pipe 112 connected thereto. The other end of the pipe 112 is connected by conventional pipe fittings 113 (Fig. 15) with the outlet opening 114 (Fig. 16) of a conventional three-way air valve 115. The valve 115 has an inlet 116 to which is connected a pipe 117 communicating with a. source of supply of air under pressure (not shown). The valve 115 has a rotatable core 118 provided with a diametrically extending port 119 and a port 120 extending laterally therefrom. The body of valve 115 is further provided with an exhaust port 121 which communicates at all times with `the atmosphere. One end of an operating arm 122 is fixed to the valve core 11S-for electing rotation thereof. The opposite end ofthe arm 122 is pivotally connected by a pin 123 with the lower end of a rod 124. The upper end of the rod 124 is connected by al plin 125 with a lever 126. A block 127 is secured to a member 128 of the sub-base 1 by a bolt 129. A pin 130 is mounted on the block 127 and serves as a fulcrum for the lever 126. One end of a rod 131 is pivotally connected to the lever 126 by a pin 132 and the opposite end of said rod is connected by a pin 133 to the medial portion of an arm 134. The arm 134 is mounted for free pivotal movement upon a stationary shaft 135 (Figs. 1 2) having one end thereof fixed in a bracket 136, which in turn is mounted upon the bracket 10 by cap screws 137. The shaft 135 is further supported by a bracket 137a secured to the pedestal bracket 7 and having bosses 138 and 139 for the reception of said shaft. The free end of the arm 134 (see Fig. 15) is adapted to be engaged by cams 140 and 141 mounted upon the outer periphery of the main drum 17. One end of a tension spring 142 is connected to the lever 126 and the opposite end of said spring is connected to the lower end of a wire 143 (Figs. l and 2) having its upper end connected to a screw eye 144 mounted on the underside of the bedplate 2.

It will be apparent from the arrangement of the spring 142, as shown in Fig. l5, that it tends to urge the free end of the arm 134 downwardly toward the cam drum 17 at all times through is action upon the lever 126 and rod 131. lt will be equally apparent that when the arm 134 is engaged with the periphery of the drum 17, the spring 142, acting through the lever 126 and rod 124, tends to maintain the arm 122 of the air valve 115 in a position such that atmospheric communication is established with the lower end of the work tube 45 through the exhaust port 121 in the valve body, the ports 119 and 120 in the valve core, and the pipe 113 which communicates with the interior of the work tube 45.

The cams 140 and 141 are designed so that they will engage with and raise the free end of the arm 134 and cause it to rock about the shaft 135. When the arm 134 is engaged by either cam 140 or 141 it will then actuate the rod 131, lever 126, rod 124 and valve arm 122 to cause the valve core 118 to rotate clockwise through an angle of 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 16 to thereby position the port 119 in a horizontal plane and establish communication between the inlet opening 116 and the outlet opening 114 of the air valve 115. When the port 119 is so positioned, air under pressure will be admitted through the conventional fitting 107 and the passageway 105 into the lower end of the work tube 45, for a purpose which will be described later.

A piston 145 (see Fig. 6) is slidably mounted in the work tube 45 and is free of all packing rings and other sealing devices, and is purposely fitted so as to provide a clearance of a few thousandths of an inch between its outer periphery and the inner surface of the work tube 45. The purpose of this clearance is to permit the piston 145 to return to the lower end of the work tube 45, by gravity, and with a dash-pot action, whenever the air pressure in the work tube 45 is released by opening of the air valve 115. It may be mentioned, incidentally, that the internal diameter of the work tube 45 is two inches and that the piston 145 is iitted therein with au all-around clearance of .003 of an inch.

A tensioning weight or take-up device generally identiiied by the numeral 146 is disposed in the work tube 45 above the piston 145. The tensioning device is illustrated in detail in Figs. 23 to 26, inclusive, to which particular reference will now be made.

The tensioning device 146 comprises a generally cylindrical body 147 having four tintes 148 formed in its outer periphery. A cylindrical bore 149 extends axially throughout the length of the body 147 and is provided for the reception of a rod 150 having a spherical cam 151 mounted upon its upper end. The rod 150 extends through an opening 152 in a plate 153 which is secured to the lower end of the body 147 by screws 4154. The rod 150 has a sliding tit in the opening 152 and the spherical cam 151 has a fairly close tit in the bore 145 so that the rod and cam are guided fo-r vertical movement relative to the body 147. rl`he lower end of the rod 152 is provided with threads 155 for the reception of nuts 156 and 157. A washer 15S is disposed between the nuts 156 and 157 and a compression spring 159 is disposed between thc washer 1.53 and the plate 153. The action of the spring 159 is to constantly urge the earn 151 downward toward the plate 153. The force of the spring 159 can bc. varied by adiusting the position of the wash-:r 153 along the threaded portion of the rod 15h.

The body 147 has a diametrical slot 163 extending across its upper end and of a substantial depth. A verti cal groove 161 extends downwardly from the slot 16d at diametrically opposite portions of the bore A pair of gripping fingers 163 is pivotally mounted upon the body 147 by shouldered pins 164 having the threaded shank thereof received in a. threaded opening 165 in the body 147. The portion of the confronting faces of each of the gripping fingers 163 disposed withinl the body 1d? is provided with a generally tl-shaped notch to form upwardly converging cam surfaces 166 and downwardiy converging cam surfaces 167, the latter cam surfaces being formed upon a downwardly extending extension 168 of said fingers and disposed below the pivot pins 164. The lingers 163 are shaped so that they are inclined toward each other in an upward direction and each linger carries a rubber pad 169 preferably adhesively bonded thereto and adapted to engage with the welt portion of a stocking with suliicient pressure to suspend the tensioning weight assembly 146 from the stocking. as will a, pear more fully hereinafter.

The upper extremity of each of the fingers 163 is also especially shaped so that when said iingers are spread apart they will deflect the fabric being knitted into the space between the fingers until about four inches, or any other suitable length of fabric, has been knitted to enable said fingers to grip the same upon closure thereof. Thus, each linger 163 includes a hollow, laterally extending protection 170 having an outer portion 171 shaped so that it generally conforms to the inner surface of the upper end of the flared sleeve 5) and also 'having an singularly disposed portion 172 shaped to deflect the fabric inwardly of the finger.

it will be apparent from Fig. 24 that when thc cam 151 is engaged with the cam surfaces 167 of the fingers 163,

the spring 159 will urge the fingers 163 toward each other into clamping engagement with any fabric that may be disposed therebetween. On the other hand, and as will bo apparent from Figs. l5, 21 and the cam diagram shown in Fig. 3l, when the cam 141 is engaged with the arm 134 the air valve 115 will be opened to admit air under pressure into the work tube 45. The piston 145 will then be raised and carry the tensioning or take-up assembly Iii-6 to the upper end of the work tube 45 until the body 147 is engaged with the shoulder 49 of the abutment ring a7. Continued upward movement of the piston 145 against the force of the spring 159 will then raise the rod 15@ causing the cam 151 carried by said rod to engage the cam surfaces 166 of the fingers 165 disposed above the pivot pins 16d and spread said fingers apart with their upper ends in engagement with the inner surface of the sleeve 56. The tensioning device 146 is thus conditioned to receive the welt portion W of a stocking S between the fingers 163 thereof.

Upon release of the air pressure in the work tube d5, that is, when the arm 134 rides off the cam 141 and onto the drum 17 and the valve 115 is actuated to exhaust air from the work tube 45 the pressure on the piston 145 will be relieved and it will start to descend by gravity. The downward movement of the piston 145 will allow the spring 159 to force the cam 151 downwardly into engagement with the cam surface 167 on the fingers 163 below the pivot pins 164 and force them toward each other and into clamping engagement with the portion of the stocking disposed therebetween to thus suspend the tensioning weight 146 from the fabric while it is being knitted. The dash-pot action provided by the slight clearance between the piston 145 and the work tube 45 allows the piston to descend slowly and serves to prevent thc piston from dropping suddenly in the work tube and striking the end member 52 with an objectionable thud.

The tensioning device 146 remains suspended from thc stocking until knitting thereof has been completed, the tensioning device gradually being lowered in the work tube 45 as knitting of the stocking progresses. Assuming that the machine is knitting a womans stocking, the tensioning device 146 will eventually descend to a region spaced a short distance above the fully descended piston 14S by the time that knitting of the stocking will have been coinpleted, so that upon severing of the threads upon completion ofthe stocking, the tensioning device 146 will drop only a short distance.

Fig. 27 illustrates the position which the tensioning device 146 and stocking S assume after the tensioning device has dropped in the work tube into engagement with the piston 145. Before the completed stocking S can be withdrawn from the work tube 45, the tensioning device 146 must release the same. The release of the stocking is automatically effected by the cam 144i in conjunction with mechanism which will now be described.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 13, 14 and 28, the work tube 45 has a horizontal slot 175 extending through one side thereof and adapted to have a stop member 176 projected inwardly therethrough. The stop 176 is carried by a clamp 177 mounted upon the work tube 45 and comprising two generally arcuate sections 17 S and 179, which surround the tube 45 and are secured together by cap screws 18), as best shown in Fig. 14. The section 179 has a recess 181 formed therein for the reception of the stop 176, and a bolt 182 extends through an opening 183 formed at the outer end of said recess, the stern of said bolt being threaded into said stop. A compression spring 184 is disposed between the section 179 and the head of the bolt 182 and constantly urges the stop 176 toward retracted position. A rubber gasket 135 is disposed between the clamp 177 and the work tube #i5 and is apertured in the zone of the slot to permit the passage of the stop 176 therethrough. The purpose o1' the gasket 155 is to prevent leakage of air under pressure from the work tube 45 at any time that the air valve 115 is open to admit air under pressure into the work tube d5.

Referring now to Figs. ll and 13, in particular, a rightangle shaped support 186 is secured to the sub-base 1 by bolts 137 extending through frame members 133 and 189, respectively. A right-angle shaped lever 19d is pivotaliy mounted upon the bracket 186 by a fulcrum pin 191. The lever 19t) includes an upright arm having a pad 192 secured to its upper end and adapted to engage with the head of the bolt 182. The pad 192 is normally main-- tained in retracted position by a tension spring 153 having one end thereof connected with a horizontal arm 194 of the lever 190, and its opposite end connected to a screw 195 mounted in the frame member 138. The lower end of a rod 196 is connected to the lever arm 194 by a pivot pin 197 at a point between the spring 193 and the pivot pin 191. The upper end of the rod 196 is connected by a pivot pin 198 to the intermediate portion of an arm 199, which is similar to the arm 134 and is disposed adjacent to said arm for free pivotal movement on the shaft 135. The arms 134 and 199 are disposed side by side and restrained against movement longitudinally of the shaft 135 by collars 200 and 201 (Fig. 2) secured to said shaft and disposed at the outer sides of said arms. A cant 292 (Fig. 13) for controlling the advance and retraction of the stop 176 is mounted upon the main drum 17 and is adapted to engage with the free end of the arm 199 to rock said arm about the shaft 135. It will be apparent that when the cam 202 raises the arm 199, the rod 196 will cause the lever 190 to pivot about its fulcrum pin 191 and, through engagement of the pad 192 with the head of the bolt 182, the stop 176 will be projected into the work tube 45 from its retracted position shown in Figs. 13 and 14 to its advanced position shown in Fig. 28.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the stop 176 is disposed in a region a short distance above the tensioning device 146 when said device is in its lowermost position. The time cycle of the machine, see Fig. 31, is such that after knitting of the stocking has been completed and the tensioning `device 146 has dropped to the lower end of the work tube 45, air under pressure is admitted into the work tube 45 by the air valve 115 under the control of the cam 140 (Fig. 15), so that the piston 145 is forced upwardly in the work tube 45 and bodily raises the tensioning device 146 until the upper end of the body 147 engages with the advanced stop 176, as shown in Fig. 28. The stop 176 prevents further up ward movement of the body 147, but the piston 145 does move farther upwardly against the force of the spring 159 forcing the rod 150 upwardly with respect to the body 147 to engage the cam 151 with the cam surfaces 166 on the fingers 163 to thereby spread said fingers apart to their open position. The stocking S is then released from the lingers 163 so that it can be removed from the work tube 45 by the suction inducing means which will be described later.

In order for the stop 176 to be actuated by the lever 190, itis necessary, of course, that the Work tube 45 be held stationary in a predetermined indexed position such that the bolt 182 lies in front of the pad 192 carried by the lever 190. In order to effect such indexing, a radial stop 205 (Figs. 7, 8 and 12) is welded to the under side of the gear 71 for interrupting rotation ot' said gear by the friction clutch 73 in a predetermined position. The gear 71 meshes with the gear 59 at the lower end of the work tube 45, as previously stated, so that stopping the gear 71 in a given position necessarily results in the work tube 45 being stopped in a corresponding indexed position.

As shown in Fig. l2, the stop 205 is engaged in a notch 206 formed in an indexing arm 207, which is pivotally secured by a cap screw 208 to a block 209, the latter in turn being secured to a frame member 210 of the sub-base 1 by cap screws 211. A similar indexing arm 212 is pivotally mounted upon the block 209 by a cap screw 213. The arm 212 is provided with a notch 214, also adapted to engage the stop 205 to index the gear 71 in a position displaced 180 from that shown in Fig. 12. The arms 207 and 212 are interconnected by a link 215 attached to the respective arms by pivot screws 216 and 217. One end of a strong spring 218 is connected to the end of the link 215 at the front of the machine and the other end of said spring is connected to an upright frame member 219 of the Sub-base 1. A relatively lighter spring 220 has one end thereof connected with the arm 212 and its other end anchored to the base plate 58 by a bolt 220a. The relative strength of the springs 218 and 220 is such that the spring 218 normally tends to bias the arms 207 and 212 toward the front of the machine to the position Shown in Fig. 12.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 9, 10 and 12, one end of a rod 221 is kconnected by a pivot pin 222 to the arm 207 at a point between the pivot pins 208 and 216. The opposite end of the rod 221 is pivotally connected at 223 to the lower end of a lever 224. The upper end of the lever 224 is fixed to a shaft 225 rotatably mounted in a sleeve 226 xed in a bracket 227 mounted upon a frame member 228 of the sub-base 1 by bolts 229. A lever 230 is xed to the other end of the shaft 225 and has one end of a rod 231 connected thereto by a pivot screw 232. The upper end of the rod 231 (see Fig. 9) is connected by a pivot pin 233 to the inio termediate portion of an arm 234 similar to the arms 134 and 199. The arm 234 is also mounted for free pivotal movement upon the shaft 135 and is held against longitudinal movement along the shaft 135 by collars 235 and 236 (see Fig. 2) xed to said shaft.

A low cam 237 (Fig. 9) and a relatively high cam 238 are secured to the main drum 17 for controlling the operations of the work tube indexing mechanism. The free end of the arm 234 is shown engaged with the outer periphery of the drum 17. The arm 207 is engaged with the stop 205 on the gear 71, when said stop extends toward the rear of the machine, as shown in Fig. 12, and thus elfects indexing of the work tube 45 in a position such that the bolt 182 carrying the stop 176 is in a position to be engaged by the pad 192 on the lever 190. The work tube 45 is then also properly indexed to permit subsequent removal of the completed stocking through an opening 250 therein (after the tensioning weight 146 has been detached from the stocking), as will be explained later. When the high cam 238 engages with the free end of the arm 234, said arm will be raised and, through the rod 231 will cause the lever 230 to rock the shaft 225 with the result that the lever 224, acting through the rod 221, will cause the arms 207 and 212 to be swung toward the rear of the machine at the appropriate time in the cycle with the result that the stop 205 will engage with the notch 214 in the arm 212 to index the work tube in a position degrees removed from that elfected by engagement of the arm 207 with the stop 205. The stop 205 then extends toward the front of the machine to properly index the work tube 45 so that the opening 250 is obstructed while the tensioning weight 146 is being attached to another stocking, as will be explained later. When the low cam 237 is engaged with the free end of the arm 234, the indexing arms 207 and 212 are maintained in an intermediate or neutral position. That is to say, in a position in which gear 71 is free to rotate and drive the work tube 45 without having the stop 205 thereof engaged by either of the indexing arms 207 or 212.

The work tube 45 has a running t in a bracket 245, see Figs. l, 2, 4, 6, 18 and 19, secured to the underside of the bedplate 2 by cap screws 246. The bracket 245 has a detachable section 247 secured thereto by cap screws 248. The bracket section 247 has a horizontal nozzle 249 extending therefrom, and the work tube 45 has the outlet opening 250, supra, adapted to be indexed with said nozzle, as shown in Fig. 18, to permit withdrawal of a stocking from the work tube 45 when the stop 205 is engaged by the indexing arm 207. The inner edge of the opening 250 is preferably rounded and smooth to prevent snagging of the stocking during removal. The diameter of the opening 250 and the internal diameter of the nozzle 249 is 11/2.

One end of a exible conduit 251 is secured to the nozzle 249 by a conventional clamp 252. The other end of the conduit 251 is attached to an inlet 253 (see Fig. 2) of a stocking container or receptacle 254 forming part of a suction creating or vacuum device V. The container 254 has a cover 255 in which is mounted a conventional motor 256 and a blower 257 for producing a suction in the conduit 251. The receptacle 254 has a screen guard 258 suitably mounted therein at one side of the inlet opening 253 behind which stockings S Withdrawn from the work tube 45 through the conduit 251 can collect without obstructing the opening 253. The cover 255 is held in air-tight relation with the receptacle 254 by a plurality of latch members 259. The cover 255 is, therefore, removable at intervals to enable manual removal of the stockings S accumulated in the container 254.

The motor 256 is connected by electrical conductors 260 and 261 with a conventional switch 262 ixedly mounted upon a bracket 263 carried by a post 264 mounted upon the upper end of the pedestal bracket 7.

Electrical current is supplied to the switch 262 through a conventional plug 26S adapted to be inserted into a conventional socket (not shown).

Any suitable suction creating device having a storage receptacle associated therewith may be used in connection with the work tube 45, and a Lewyt tank type vacuum cleaner with its hose attached to nozzle 249 and modified to include the screen guard 258 has actually been successfully employed to withdraw stockings from the work tube 45 for deposit in the receptacle 254.

Referring particularly to Fig. 20, the switch 262 has a button 266 adapted to be pushed inwardly to complete the circuit to the motor 256 of the vacuum device V. The switch button 266 is actuated at the appropriate time in the cycle by a suction control cam 267 mounted upon the cam drum 17. A11 arm 269 is mounted for free pivotal movement on the shaft 135 and a rod 272, having a lower offset end connected with the arm 269, carries an enlargement 273 at its upper end adapted to engage the switch button 266. The rod 272 is maintained in a substantially vertical position by a guide 274 secured to the bracket 137e' by a cap screw 275. The free end of the arm 269 is adapted to be raised by the cam 267 and is illustrated in its raised position in Fig. 20. Such upward movement of the arm 262 correspondingly raises the rod 272 to force the switch button 266 inwardly to close the switch 262 and thus complete the circuit to the motor 256 of the suction device V. Thus, with the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 20, the motor 256 would be in operation to create a suction in the conduit 251 and nozzle 249 for withdrawing a stocking from the work tube 45.

Figs. lS, 27 and 28 illustrate the opening 25d of the work tube 45 in the position it assumes relative to the nozzle 249 corresponding to the time that the stop 205 on the gear '71 is engaged by the indexing arm 267 to hold the work tube 45 in a position in which the bolt 182, which operates the stop 176, is indexed with the end 192 of the lever 190. Hence, when the cam 140, Fig. 15, engages the arm 134 to effect opening of the air control valve 115 to admit air under pressure into the work tube 45 to eiect raising of the tensioning device 146 into engagement with the stop 176 to detach the same from the stocking S, as illustrated in Fig. 28, the opening 250 is disposed in registration with the nozzle 249. It will be noted from the cam diagram, Fig. 3l, that the suction is on before the cam 140 opens the air valve 115 to effect detachment of the tensioning weight 146 from the stocking S. Hence, suction starts to pull the particular portion of the stocking S disposed in the plane of the opening into the nozzle 249 before said stocking is released from the tensioning weight 146. it will also be noted that suction is effective before the stop 176 is projected into the work tube 45 and this feature prevents any possible catching of the stocking S on said stop by taking all slack out of the stocking between the tensioning weight 146 and the opening 250. Once the stocking S is free from the fingers 163 it is quickly withdrawn from the work tube 45 and deposited in the receptacle 254.

When the arm 234, Fig. 9, is engaged with the high cam 23S, the notch 214 of the indexing arm 212 will be engaged with the stop 205 on the gear 71 and the work tube 45 will be held stationary with the opening 250 of said work tube disposed out of registration with the nozzle 249, as illustrated in Fig. 19. It will be noted from Fig. 19 that the opening 250 is offset 90 from the bolt 182, which carries the stop 176, and that the wall of the work tube 45 opposite the opening 250 obstructs communication between the interior of said work tube and the nozzle 249. Hence, when the cam 141 (Fig. 15) engages the arm 134 to actuate the valve 115 to admit air under pressure into the work tube 45 to raise the tensioning weight 146 to engage the shoulder 49, as illustrated in Fig. 2l, no air can escape from the work tube 45 through the nozzle 249. Of course, some air will escape around the piston 145 through the clearance space surrounding said piston, but this is negligible and does not adversely affect the operation of the machine, particularly since an air pressure of 17 to 2O lbs. per square inch is normally employed to actuate said piston.

in the normal operating cycle of the machine, about eighteen courses of the welt W of a new stocking are knitted before the tensioning device 146 is raised to the upper end of the work tube and its fingers 163 spread apart, as previously described. The work tube 45 is held stationary at this time by virtue of the fact that the indexing arm 212 is engaged with the stop 205 on the drive gear 71, the clutch 73, of course, being disengaged. As the needle cylinder 31 rotates, knitting continues, and the welt W feeds down into the space between the fingers 163, being so directed by the inclined surfaces 272 thereof. After a length of about four inches has been knitted, or preferably at the time that the stitches are being transferred from the dial back to the needles, the air pressure in the work tube 45 is released by actuation of the valve to exhaust position under the control of cam 141, thereby allowing the piston to slowly descend by gravity to the bottom of said work tube and permitting the fingers 163 to close into gripping engagement with the knitted portion of the stocking therebetween under the action of the spring 159. It will be understood that the air control cam 141 may be designed so that the air pressure may be released from the work tube 45 at any time, so long as there is a sufficient length of the knitted stocking (more or less than 4 inches) that can be gripped by the fingers 163, In any event, and as indicated by the cam diagram, Fig. 3l, the work tube 45 is held stationary until about the time that the fingers 163 grip the stocking fabric.

When the fingers 163 first take hold, the body 147 of the tensioning weight 146 is in frictional Contact with the shoulder 49 of the abutment ring 47 at the upper end of the work tube 45, and in order to prevent twisting of the stocking in the region thereof between said fingers and the knitting zone (to avoid possible damage to the stocking or pulling out of the same from between the fingers (163), the indexing linkage 267-215--212 is moved to its neutral position, thereby freeing the gear '71, so that when the clutch 73 is engaged the work tube 45 is driven and this causes the weight 146 to rotate with the work tube 45 at the same speed as the needle cylinder 31, the rotation of the work tube 45 commencing at substantially the same time that the weight 146 is attached to the stocking.

After the fingers 163 have fully closed, the entire takeup weight 146 hangs free and suspended in the work tube 45 and rotates with the stocking.

Although the tensioning weight or take-up device 146 moves freely away from the abutment ring 47 as knitting progresses, the rotation of the work tube 45 is nevertheless continued until the knitting of the stocking has been completed and the iast stitch has been shed from the needles, whereupon the completed stocking drops down into said work tube; the take-up weight 146 dropping by gravity and striking the piston 145 at the bottom of said tube. Thereafter', the indexing mechanism 22'7-d 215-212 is actuated from its neutral position as the arm 234 rides ofi the low cam 237 and onto the drum 17 to position the notch 266 of the arm 257 to engage the stop 205 on the gear '71 and thereby interrupt rotation of the work tube 4S with the stop 176 indexed with the stopactuating lever 19d. The friction clutch 73 slips :nementarily when the gear 71 is thus held, but is timely disengaged as the cam 98 (Fig. 7) engages the finger 97 of the lever 95 to effect raising of the clutch actuating cono 3G to disengage said clutch.

With the average length womens hose, the portion of the leg of the stock-ing S about 1S" from the welt will be disposed opposite the discharge opening 250, which at this time is heid indexed with the discharge nozzle 249, 

